Again, the cat and I went to the basement bedroom to meditate. I lit a candle on the altar and turned around to take my seat on the ottoman. There was the cat contentedly curled up in the middle of the ottoman I sit on. So, what to do. None of the meditation books I've read have addressed this issue. I talked calmly to him and tried to pick him up; and I got deep scratches on my hands and forearms for my efforts. I seem to remember reading once about a monastery somewhere that as part of their ritual, ties up the resident cat before meditations sessions. I am beginning to see the wisdom of this practice. I went upstairs to the bathroom and washed my hands and arms and put some antibiotic ointment on the scratches.
When I was able to sit down and begin meditation on the ottoman, I entertained thoughts about what I can do if the situation with the cat comes up again. Obviously, picking him up and moving him is not the most skillful means of dealing with him. I can either:
1) be faster than he is and get to the ottoman before he does.
2) sit beside him and just scootch him over a little.
3) let him have the ottoman and sit on the floor.
4) offer him a better option, such as a dish of his favorite food.
During the rest of the half hour I sit with eyes closed. I find that during this sitting, I more quickly recognize when my mind has wandered and more easily bring it back and make small adjustments in my posture as little slumpings occur. The cat did come back in the room and found himself a place on the bed.
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